In Loving Memory...
The Warren County Community Foundation is saddened by the recent loss of these community members. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families at this difficult time.
Edward Eugene Drake, 90, Williamsport, passed away in the Ascension St. Vincent Williamsport Hospital, following a short illness, on Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 8:35 p.m.
Ed, as he was known to family and friends, was born in Franklin, Indiana on May 15, 1933. He was the son of the late Albert Edward and Nina Mae (Smock) Drake. He was raised in Franklin, graduating from Whiteland High School in 1952. Following graduation, Ed enlisted into the U.S. Navy and served during the Korean War. Following his honorable discharge in July of 1956 he moved to Shelby County, Indiana and began farming. He later attended Purdue University and received his Associates Degree in Mobile Telephone Communications. He joined Indiana Bell and later transferred to the Covington office in 1970 and relocated his family to Williamsport. He retired from Indiana Bell after 35 years and 3 months of service on December 31, 1991. He and his wife, Carol, purchased T & T Auto Parts store, which is now known as, CarQuest of Attica.
Ed was a 50 year member of the Pittsboro Lodge # 620 F. & A.M.; member of the Scottish Rite and Zorah Shrine of Terre Haute; member of the American Legion Post # 52 of Attica. He served as a member of the Williamsport Town Board; member of the Attica-Williamsport Rotary Club; served on the Warren County Sheriff’s Merit Board and was a 4-H leader. He enjoyed fishing, especially with his brother-in-laws and father-in-law in Wisconsin and Canada. He liked to play golf and was an avid fan of Purdue sports. He liked woodworking and following NASCAR with Jeff Gordon as his favorite driver. He especially enjoyed following the stock car circuit with his grandson Zach driving one of the stock cars. He followed his grandchildren’s events with pride and enjoyed feeding his birds and squirrels, while shooing away the pesky cats that invaded their territory.
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On January 16, 1959, Ed married Carol Lee Jones in Carol’s parents home in Pittsboro, IN. He leaves behind his wife, Carol of 65 years along with two children, Connie (Mike) Peterson and Rusty (Mellisa) Drake, both of Williamsport; six grandchildren, Allyse (Cory) Gruss, Holly (Adam) Walters, Emily (Justin) Phillips, Zach Drake, Garrett Drake and Gracie Drake; five great-grandchildren, Calie, Averie, Klay, Luke and Logan.
Friends may call at the Maus Funeral Home, Attica, on Sunday, February 4th, from 1:00 p.m until the Masonic Memorial service at 3:45 p.m. followed the funeral service at 4:00 p.m. with Pastor Brenda McIntosh officiating. A military service will follow the funeral service and an inurnment will be held in the Highland Cemetery, Williamsport, at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Warren County Community Foundation.
Marilyn Ruth Mann, 82, of Otterbein passed away Friday, September 8, 2023 at Autumn Trace in Attica, IN.
Marilyn was born October 16, 1940 in New Castle, IN, to the late James and Susan (Dingle) Smith, Sr. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University and later graduated from Purdue University with her Master’s degree.
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On August 3, 1961 she married Leo Swingley Mann in Bloomington, IN and he survives.
Marilyn was a librarian, farmer, farm manager, homemaker and a fierce advocate of her daughters’ interests. She was a member of Armstrong United Methodist Church, Vice-President of Phi Mu and helped start the 1852 philanthropy fund for the sorority, consistently supporting young women. She was a member of Rainbow Girls and the grand worthy advisor for Indiana as a young woman. She also served on the board of the Indiana Music Federation. Marilyn was a long-time member of Delta Sigma Kappa, a women’s service organization, and proudly served on the Otterbein Library Board.
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Surviving are her four daughters: Valerie Mann (Karl) Hatopp of Saline, MI, Melanie (Dan) Murphy of Nashville, TN, Natalie Mann (Robert Stout) of Portland, OR and Stephanie (Richard) Johnson-Carlucci of Erfurt, Germany; five grandchildren: Ellery Hatopp, Isaak Hatopp, Morgan Murphy, Grace Murphy, Josephine Johnson; and several nieces and nephews.
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She is preceded in passing by her parents and brother James Smith Jr. Marilyn’s wishes were followed and her body was generously donated to the IU School of Medicine. A Celebration and Thanksgiving Service for the Life of Marilyn Ruth Mann with be held Saturday, September 23, 2023 at 1:30pm at Armstrong Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her honor to the Armstrong United Methodist Church, or to the Warren County Community Foundation designating the Warren County Education Fund. https.//www.warrencountyfoundation.com/existing.funds-1 Hippensteel Funeral Home is honored to serve the Mann family. Share memories and condolences online at www.hippensteelfuneralservice.com
Williamsport - Raymond “Ray” Joseph McGraw, 84, Williamsport, passed away quietly in his home in Williamsport, with his family by his side, on Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 3:15 p.m.
Ray was born in Lafayette, Indiana on December 21, 1938. He was the son of the late Raymond G. and Anna Marie (Illingsworth) McGraw. Ray was raised in Williamsport, playing varsity basketball for the Bingy Bombers. He graduated from Williamsport High School in 1956.
Ray married Eva Lou DeSutter on January 3, 1959 in the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Attica.
In Ray’s early career he worked for his father-in-law, Raymond DeSutter at both the DeSutter Funeral Home and Furniture Store. Some of those jobs included driving the ambulance and delivering furniture. Ray’s passion quickly turned to farming. He farmed in Davis Township east of Attica until his retirement in 2001, then he and his wife, Eva continued their enjoyment of travels and adventures, wintering in Fort Myers, Florida and showing their antique car.
Ray was active in the Attica community by serving as President on the Attica Consolidated School Board and helped oversee the building of the Attica High School following the fire in 1973. He was a member of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church; Attica Eagles Lodge # 2596 and many card clubs. He also enjoyed golfing, hunting and riding horses.
Ray leaves behind his wife, Eva, of 64 years along with four children.
Mike (Becky) McGraw, Woodbury, MN and their three children, Megan (Brett) Ferschweiler, Lauren (Pete) Johnson and Andrew (Kelly) McGraw; Pat (Sherri) McGraw, Attica and their three children, Jacob (Laci) McGraw, Molly (Blake) Dircksen and Hunter (Brady) Rogers; Todd McGraw, West Lafayette and his four children, Mat (Patricia) McGraw, Chelsea (Jason) Schlueter, Allie (Travis) Fleming and Maria McGraw; Melissa (Doyle) Allison and their twin sons, Max (Megan) Allison and Dane Allison. He was also blessed with 13 great-grandchildren. He also leaves behind a brother, Tom (Jo) McGraw, Fountain Hills, AZ. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Shirley Ricker.
A Rosary Service will be recited on Sunday, September 24th, at 2:30 p.m. at Maus Funeral Home, Attica followed by a visitation from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Another visitation will be held at the funeral Home on Tuesday, September 26th, from 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. followed by a funeral mass held at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 407 S. Perry St., Attica, at 9:30 a.m. with Rev. David Rasner officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Attica.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Williamsport Public Library or the Warren County Community Foundation.
Rodney Wayne (Rod) Merriman, age 53 of Warren County, IN, passed away at 12:08 a.m. on Thursday, February 9, 2023, at Ascension St. Vincent Williamsport Hospital.
Rod was born on June 2nd, 1969, in Plymouth, IN. He was the son of Janet K. Payne and Donald W. Merriman. Rod was a 1987 graduate of Seeger High School. He was a Warren County resident for most of his life. Rod worked for Mark Tanner burying telephone lines, then later found his god given talent of custom woodworking. After discovering this passion, he started his own business, Merriman Custom Woodworking. His work turned countless houses into homes. Rod always found a way to bring love, laughter, and happiness into this world and to everyone around him, his music being one of several ways. It’s been said that things accomplished here on earth is not what matters, its how you made people feel… how proud we are that Rod accomplished BOTH!
Surviving are: Son, Eli Merriman (Sarah Emrick) of Attica, IN; Daughter, Macie Kerst-Merriman (Logan Cunningham) of Great Falls, MT; Father, Don Merriman (Cheryl) of Williamsport, IN; Mother Jan Turpin (Rick) of Attica, IN; Brother, Roy Merriman (Mindy) of West Lafayette, IN; Step-siblings, Jody (Theresa) Brooks, Lori (Scott) Williams, Kiley (Michael) Gaffaney; Many lifelong friends who will miss him dearly.
Visitation will be held at Williamsport Christian Church on Saturday February 18, 2023 from 1:00 p.m. until service time at 4:00 p.m. with Minister Jesse Stoner officiating Memorial contributions may be made to the Warren County Community Foundation. Please feel free to dress casually.
Thomas "Tom" Victor Ringer, 66, of Kent City, Michigan passed away at his home on January 27, 2023.
Tom was born on January 21, 1957 in Williamsport, Indiana to Dr. William A. and Marilyn Ringer. Tom was the oldest of the six Ringer kids and loved to tease his younger siblings. He loved the outdoors, sports, 4-H, boy scouts, and learning.
He graduated from Seeger High School in 1975, and went on to swim and earn his B.A. at DePauw University. He earned his medical degree at Indiana University.
Tom married Janet Price on May 19, 1984. Together they had six beautiful daughters. He was a devoted husband and father, and he could often be found cheering on his girls at soccer matches and cross country and track meets, wearing his red cap, blue sweatshirt, and stopwatch.
He worked for almost 20 years as an ER doctor at St. Vincent Hospital in Williamsport, Indiana, where he touched hundreds of lives and was affectionately known as "the young Doctor Ringer".
Tom is survived by his loving wife, Janet; children Carrie (James) Austin, Mollie (Paul) Ringer-Reidy, Hannah (Dakota) Presler, Emma Ringer, Chelsea (Nate) Welch, and Sadie Ringer; his grandchildren Hadessah and Adara Austin, Alice, Patrick, Rosie, and Hollie Ringer Reidy, Samara, Hazel, and Ivy Presler, Kael, Gabe, and Sera Welch, and Everett Ringer; his parents, Dr. William A and Marilyn Ringer; his siblings Laurel Myers, Jim (Marilyn) Ringer, Bill (Cindy) Ringer, Chris (Mary) Ringer, and Katie (Bob) Tarter. He is also survived by numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces.
Donations can be made in Tom's honor to the St. Vincent Hospital Guild Scholarship Fund through the Warren County Community Foundation. This scholarship is awarded to students pursing a career in healthcare. Tom's family feels that this scholarship honors his years of service working at Butterworth Hospital in the Peds ICU and as an ER doctor at St. Vincent Hospital in Williamsport, IN. Checks can be made payable to the Warren County Community Foundation and mailed to 31 N. Monroe Williamsport, IN 47993. You can also make donations online at https://www.warrencountyfoundation.com/copy-of-giving Please make a note in the memo line to designate that it's for Tom Ringer for the St. Vincent Scholarship Fund.
Memorial Service details can be found online:
In Loving Memory of our board member, Andy VanMeter
Andy lit up the room. His wit, humor, compassion, generosity, great ideas, intelligence, smile, laugh, and unique ability to look at an issue from many perspectives are just a few of the many things that we will miss about Andy. Thanks for the great memories.
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Donations can be made by clicking on the donate button and noting who the gift is in memory of at checkout.
You can also call 765-764-1501 or email michele@warrencountyfoundation.com to make your wishes known or mail your donation to the address below.
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